Photogenic throughout the year, the steps offer a different atmosphere, colours and light in every season.
The steps belong to the historic Villa Carolina, built in 1898 according to the design of Viennese architect K. von Wiedenfeld for the wealthy Budapest businessman Josef F. Lovasy, at a time when Čikat was developing into a fashionable destination for European aristocracy and affluent guests. It was during this period that magnificent villas, landscaped promenades and bathing areas were built along the coast, shaping the distinctive appearance of this Lošinj bay.
Villa Carolina and the Heavenly Steps are also associated with intriguing stories from the days of the Viennese court. According to one legend, Austro-Hungarian Emperor Franz Joseph intended to give the villa to his mistress, Katharina Schratt, an actress at Vienna’s Burgtheater.
Although this is a legend, it adds a touch of romance and mystery to the location and is still fondly retold today as part of the Čikat tales dating back to the era of the Austro-Hungarian aristocracy.
Today, the Heavenly Steps are one of those places that effortlessly bring together the history of Lošinj, architecture, the sea and a timeless Mediterranean atmosphere.
Location: Čikat Bay, Mali Lošinj
Special feature: a historic entrance to the sea beside Villa Carolina and one of the most photographed locations on the island.
